Self-sharpening safety razor



July 8, i952 w. R. EwlNG ETAL 2,602,221

SELF-SHARPENNG SAFETY RAZOR Fild May 16, 1950 2 Sl'EETS-SHEET l FL'QJ.,9

Willian-m ATTORNEY July 8, 1952 Filed May 16, 1950 w. R. EWING ETAL2,602,221

SELF-SHARPENING SAFETY RAZOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 "alli,

Patented July 8, 1952 SELF-SHARPENING SAFETY RAZOR William It. Ewing,South Pasadena, Calif., and Benton M.y Ewing, Farmingdale, N. Y.,assignors to Ewing Self Sharpening Razor Co., I nc., Pasadena, Calif., acorporation of California Application May 16, 1950, Serial No. 162,237

(ci. :o-36) Claims.

This invention relates to improvementsn safety razors incorporatingrollers for sharpening their blades and relates to the subject matterdisclosed in copending application Serial No. 44,065, iiled August 13,1948, for Self-Sharpening Safety Razor. y

The primary object of the invention isto provide structurally andmechanically superior formation and relative arrangement; and coactionof the swingable razor blade holder, the sharpening roller, and themeans whereby the blade holder is equally tensioned in oppositedirections relative to the roller whereby the blade edge is sharpeneduniformly on both sides throughout its length as the roller is rotatedin opposite directions.

Another important object of the invention is to provide safety razors ofthe character indicated above wherein thetensioning means resistingdeflection of the blade holder in opposite directions acts to hold therazor blade edge against the sharpening roller and acts also to returnthe bladev holder to and maintain the blade holdery in a normal orstarting position in which the blade when positioned freely in the slotlies in a plane passing through the axis of the roller, so that theopposite sides of the blade edge are engaged with the sharpening rollerwith equal pressure during a sharpening operation.

Another important object of the invention is to provide more practicalsafety razors of the character indicated above which can be manufacturedin an attractive and serviceable form at relatively low cost.

Another important object of the invention is to provide improvedself-sharpening means in Y safety razors of the character indicatedabove in which the sharpening roller is formed with a radial slot toreceive the blade edge, the external surface of the roller being formedwith a spiral abrasive ridge or rib which projects radially from thesurface of the roller and terminates at its opposite ends at oppositesides of and at opposite ends of the slot. The roller has lugs orprojections similar in cross section to the terminal ends of the spiralrib positioned in opposition to the terminal ends of the rib at oppositesides of the slot therefromV whereby as the roller starts its rotationin either direction a lug in addition to a terminal end of the abrasiverib will engage the face ofthe blade, instead of only the terminal endof the rib, whereby balanced and equalized pressure is brought to bearon opposite ends of the blade against the resistance of the tensioningand positioning means, instead of only von one end of the blade. i l

Another important object of the invention isv the provision of asharpening roller of the character indicated above wherein the edgesforming the sides of the blade slot are planar and parallel to eachother and to a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the slotand the axis of the roller whereby as the roller is turned in eitherdirection the flat or planar slot sides initially en,- gage the side ofthe blade flatwise instead of at an angle, thereby reducing distortionof the blade and undue wear thereon. y

A further important object of the invention is the provision of asharpening' roller of the character indicated above wherein the exteriorof the roller along one edge of the slot isformed with spacedprojections serving as a blade edge guard in the shaving position of theblade and the roller. Y

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing,wherein for purposes of illustration only, specic embodiments of theinvention are set forth in detail:

Fig. 1 is `a vside elevation of one embodiment with the blade, itsholder, and the sharpening roller in shaving position and showing indotted lines one form of tensioning and positioning means; l Y Y Fig. 2isfa' view similar to Fig. 1 partly in'longitudinal vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a left-hand end elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. e is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View of Fig. l Y

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.1;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a combined sharpening roller and bladeguard through the longitudinal axis of the slot;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation partly in vertical longitudinal sectionshowing another form of blade tensioning and positioning means andanother form of blade holder mounting;

Fig. 8 is a similar View showing another form of blade tensioning andpositioning means and another form of blade holder mounting;

, Fig. 9 is another similar View showing a furthe form of bladetensioning and positioning means;

Fig.v 10 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing theuntensioned normalposition of the blade and holder with relation to the slot in thesharpening roller and f Fig. 11 is a plan view of a blank for forming ahollow sharpening roller by stamping and rolling.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like or similar numeralsdesignate like parts throughout the several Views, and first to Figs. lto 6 thereof, the numeral I0 designates an axially elongated handlehaving an annular shoulder `II at its forward end beyond which projectsa threaded boss I2 arranged to thread into a threaded hole I3 in therearward, middle portion I4 of the'bight portion I5 of the razor headhead I5. The bight portion I5 has depending in verted, generallytriangular arms I'I on its ends, The lower ends of the arms I'Ihaveholes I8. in which are journaled the axial pintles I9 on the ends ofthe sharpening roller 2l).Y Theupperfor-` guard for the shaving edge 26of the blade 25.

wardly displaced portions of the arms .,I'I have f holes 2I in which arejournaledthe pintles 22V on the ends of the blade holder 23 whichcomprises spaced plates 24 betweenfwhich the blade 25 is removablysecured with its shaving edge 26 exposed and positioned in the region ofthe sharpening roller 25. InFigs. 1-5 the blade 25 is secured in placebetween the holder plates 24 by screws 2l threaded forwardly through theplates and traversing. theV blade V25'.

The rearward one of the blade holder plates 24 has an upwardly andrearwardly -angulated lug 28 formed with an opening which may be in theform of a transversely elongated closed slot 29YV arranged to coact withthe holder tensioning and positioning means which comprises a spring3|), here shown as a leaf spring, having a forward end 3| entering theslot 23 and terminatingrat its rearward end in a portion which is bentdownwardly and forwardly and then upwardlyY along the spring 35' todefine a longitudinally' elongated flat loop 32'. The loop 32 isconfined in a socket 33 formed in the forward end portion of the handleIIJ, and opening through the threaded boss I2, against sidewise movementby the wall ofthe socket 33 and against axial movement away from therazor head I6 bythe rearward end 34 of the socket-33. Accidentaldisplacement of the spring is prevented by its frictional engagementwith the wall of socket 33, but it may be removed if necessary ordesirable. The boss I2 being threaded in the holev I3 in the razor headwith the shoulder Ill-againstr the head and the forward end 3Iof spring36 having been inserted in the slot 29 in the lug 28, the spring SDtendsto yieldably hold the blade 25 in its normal position in which' thespring is relaxed or untensioned. This normal position of the blade2-5'is-substantially radial with respect to the sharpening roller 20when the blade lies freely within the roller slot 35 as shown in Fig.10.

The form of sharpening'ro-ller 20-shown lin Fig. 6 comprises anall-aluminum` cylinder formed with a longitudinal slot 35' openingthrough one side thereof, the slot35 having planar edges 35 which areparallel to each other and to a plane passing through the longitudinalaxis of the slot and they axis of the roller, as clearly illustrated inthe drawings, for a purpose hereinafter. explained. The bottom` of theslot 35A islaterally orarcuately enlarged as .indicated vat 31 to.'provide adequate clearance for the shaving edge 26 of blade2a?.Y

The exteriorsurface ofA the roller 20lhas: projectingi therefromfasymmetrical.' round-surface rib..38 .which spiralsaround the roller andhas terminalzends 33.1ocated at opposite-ends of 'and atfoppositesidesofslot 35; the end faces -40 of these terminal ends forming coplanarcontinuationsv ofthe slot. edges 36; At the-sides and: ends ofi-slot'.35i" and. directly Y opposed to `the `terminal ends Vy35i of'rib. 33'across Lthe slot 35 aref formed Opposite the slot 35 the roller isformed at one end with Va recess or notch 44 adapted to be enteredV byafinger 45 on the free end of van arm 45 pivoted at 41 onthe inward sideof one of the razor headarms I7, as indicated in Fig. l. The same endofthe arm 4G has a lateral nger pull 48 projecting behind the head armI'I by means of' which the arm 45 can be swung rearwardly to retract thenger 45from the recess 44 and free the roller 2i! to be turned in eitherdirection from shaving position, wherein one side of the blade edge 25rests upon the top of a rib 38 and the other upon the top of a lug 4I atoppositer ends of an edge of the slot 35, as shown. y

In the normal position of the blade 25, referred to hereinabove, theshaving edge 25 of the blade 25 is positioned freely in the roller slot35 and is yieldably held by the spring 35 in a plane radial with respectto the roller 2i).` When the blade is centrally disposed with referenceto the slot, as illustrated in Fig. l0, the faces 40 of rib ends 39 andthefaces 42 of lugsv 4I, together with the slot edges 35 with which theyform continuous planar surfaces at opposite ends ofk each side of theslot, are parallel to the opposite sides of the blade 25. These parallelplanar slot edges are so spaced laterally that during roller rotationthey engage the correspondingy side of the blade 25 in a substantiallyflatwisernanner as the blade snaps back under spring tension followingpassagey of the trailing edge of the slot past the bladeV edge. This isbecause the spring 3l] on release of contact between roller and bladesnaps the blade back'somewhat beyond its normal position, radial withrespect to the roller.

Since spring!) operates 'to yieldably resist with equal. force swingingmovement of the blade 25 in either direction away from normal position,the Vabrading pressure exerted by the roller rib A38 is the saine onboth sides of the blade edge 26 and uniform, accurate sharpening of theblade is assured. Further, the force required to rotate the roller upona surface to produce the sharpen- 4 ing action isequal in oppositedirections and the operation is smooth and devoid of strains andinequalities which would otherwise subject the mechanism to undue wear.

In Fig. 7 is shown another embodiment ofthe invention wherein thethreaded boss I2a on the forward end of the handle lila passes through ahole i3d in the rearward part of the head Ia and is secured in place bya nut 5I. The pintles 22a of the blade holder 23d are removablypositioned in journal notches 2| a opening through the upper end of theforward part of the head arms Ila. The upper edge of the blade holder isformed at its midpoint with a Iflat-bottomed notch 29a. The tensioningand positioning means in this instance takes the form of a leaf spring30a which has a portion 54 bent forwardly to flatly engage the bottom ofthe notch 23a and thereby yieldably maintain the hereinabove describednormal position of the blade 25a. The spring portion 54 terminates atits rearward end in a portion 55 which mayengage the underside of thehead Ilia and a depending portion 56 formed with an opening throughwhich the handle boss I2a extends, the nut 5| holding the spring base 55in place. i

In the embodiment of Fig. 8, the upper rearward part of the blade holder23h is formed with a projection 28h having a plane vertical cam face 51with which the plane forward end 58 of a cylindrical plunger 53 isengaged. The plunger 59 slides in a smooth socket 33o opening throughthe handle boss 12b into the handle leb and having a closed rear end34h. Compressed between the socket end 34D and the rearward end of theplunger 59 is a helical spring 30h which maintains the plunger againstthe blade holder cam face 51. The angular relationship of the plane end58 of the plunger 59 and the face 51 of the cam projection 28h is suchthat swinging of the blade holder 23h out of its normal position, asdescribed herein above, in either direction is resisted by the spring30h.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 the blade holder 23o has a rearwardlyand downwardly projecting lug 28c on its rearward side onto which ishooked the forward end 5U of a helical spring 30e extending freelythrough a socket 33e formed through the rear of the bight portion |5c ofthe razor head Ic and into the handle c. The spring has a rear end 6|hooked von a pin 62 at the closed end 34o of the socket.

The arrangement of this spring tensioning mechanism is such that, whenthe blade o is in neutral position, i. e., lying in a planesubstantially radial to the axis of roller rotation, the point ofengagement of spring o with hook 6i) is in alignment with pin 62 towhich the other end of the spring is anchored. At that point the hook`50 is at the point closest to pin 62 possible within the arc of swingof said hook about the ,1

axis of blade holder rotation.k Thus, when the blade is forced in eitherdirection away from normal, the spring 30e is placed under added ten.

sion, there being suflcient clearance around the spring within thehandle of the razor to permit slight transverse bodily displacement ofsaid spring back and forth with swinging movement of the blade holder.

A simpler and cheaper form of sharpening roller is illustrated in Fig.1l. 12 in the form of an aluminum sheet stamping embodies a diagonallyextending raised bead 14, oppositely disposed apertured ears or endplates 15, and diagonally disposed corner portions 18 elevated beyondthe plane of the sheet substantially the same distance as the bead 14.This blank may be rolled to form a partial cy linder with ablade-receiving slot between the longitudinal edges of the blank, andthe apertured plates 18 are bent into a plane normal to the cylinderaxis. |Ihe apertures then serve to receive bearing pintles in arms, suchas l1, of the razor head to rotatably mount the roller. If preferred,end plates 16 may be provided with projections serving as pintles forreception into apertures in arms l1. In either event the roller isrotatably journaled in the razor head as already described.

The blank illustrated in Fig. l1 has been den scribed as a stamping, thesheet being of uniform' thickness throughout its area before and vafterstamping. However, it will be appreciated that such blank could as wellbe a forging wherein bead 14, corner portions 18, etc., are thicker thanthe remaining expanse of the blank while A rectangular blank 6 still inthe at, i. e., before rolling into' cylindrical form and bending the endplates 15.

Having described certain preferred forms of the invention, variousmodifications will be apparentA to those skilled in the art andfor thatreason I wish to v'limit myself only within the scope of theappendedclaims.

What we claim is:

1. A self-sharpening safety razor 'comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a blade, asharpening roller rotatably mounted in the head, said roller beinglongitudinally slotted for reception of the cutting edge of the blade,and yieldable means normally positioning the blade in a planesubstantially radial withrespect to the roller when the blade liesfreely within the slot, said yieldable means being so correlated withthe blade holder as to offer substantially equal resistance to swingingmovement of the blade in either direction away from said radial plane,said slot defining slot edges having faces parallel to each other and toa plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said slot and the axisof said roller and being so spaced laterally that upon Vcontinuedsharpening rotation of said roller in either direction the slot edgesengage the shaving edge of the blade flatwise to deflect the yblade toone side of its normal position. y 1 Vf 2, A self-sharpening safetyrazor comprising a handle, a head, a blade holder pivotally mounted inthe head and containing a blade, a sharpening roller rotatably mountedin the head, said roller being longitudinally slotted for reception ofthe cutting edge of the blade, yieldable means normally positioning theblade in a plane substantially radial with respect to the roller whenthe blade lies freely within the slot, said yieldable means being socorrelated with the blade holder as to offer substantially equalresistance to swinging movement of the blade in either direction awayfrom said radial plane,4 said slot defining slot edges having facesparallel to each other and to a plane passing through the longitudinalaxis of said slot and the axis of said roller and being so spacedlaterally that upon continued sharpening rotation of said roller ineither direction the slot edges engage the shaving edge of the bladeilatwise to deflect the blade to one side of its normal position, and anexternal spiral abrading rib on said roller having terminal ends atopposite ends of and at opposite sides of the roller slot, said terminalends having faces ilush with the faces of the slot edges, the slot edgefaces and the rib end faces forming continuous planar surfaces to engagethe shaving edge of the blade as said roller is turned. Y

3. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising al handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a blade, asharpening roller rotatably mounted in the head, said roller beinglongitudinally slotted for reception of the cutting edge of the blade,yieldable means normally positioning the blade in a plane substantiallyradial with respect to the roller when the blade lies freely within theslot, said yieldable means being so correlated with the blade holder asto offer substantially equal resistance to swinging movement of theblade in either direction away from said radial plane, said slot deningslot edges having faces parallel to each other and to a plane passingthrough the longitudinal axis of said slot and the axis of saidrollerand being faces to engage the shaving edge of the blade as saidAroller is turned, and external lugs on the roller at the opposite sidesof the slot and opposed to the terminal ends of the abrading rib,said-,lugs-having faces flush with the related slot edge faces, wherebythe lug faces engage the sides of the-:blade edge simultaneously withthe relatedabrading rib end faces and at opposite ends of the bladeedge.

4. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head. a bladeholder pivotally mounted inthe head and containing a blade,`a sharpeningroller rotatably mounted inthe head, said roller being-longitudinallyslotted Vforrreception of the cuttingxedge of the blade, and yieldablemeans normally positioning the blade in a plane substantially radialwith respect to the roller when the blade lies freely within the slot,said yieldable vmeans being so correlated with the blade holder as tooder substantially equal resistance to swinging movement of the blade ineither direction away from said radial plane, said yieldable meanscomprising a spring member inserted in a socket 'formed in said handleand having a portion projecting forwardly toward said head, said holderhaving a portion apertured to receive the forward end of said springmember, said slot defining .slot edges having faces parallel to eachother and to a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said slotand the axis of said roller and beingso spaced laterally that uponcontinued sharpening rotation of said roller in either direction theslot edges engage the shaving edge of the blade flatwise to deflect theblade on one side of its normal position.

5. A self-sharpern'ng safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted inthe head and containing a blade, a sharpeningrollerrotatably mounted in the head, said roller being longitudinallyslotted for reception of the cutting edge of the blade, and yieldablemeans normally positioning the blade in a plane substantially radialwith respect to the roller when the blade lies freely within the slot,said yieldable` meansbeing so correlated with the blade holder as tooder substantially equal resistance to swinging movement of the blade ineither direction away from said radial plane, said yieldable meanscomprising a springr member operably mounted on a portion of said handleand cornprising a rearward portion connected to said head and bearingagainst said head and a forwardly projecting portion angulated withrespect to said rearward portion having a forward end engaging saidblade holder',V said slot defining slot edges having faces parallel toeach other and to a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of saidslot and the axis of said roller and being so spaced laterally that uponcontinued sharpenlng rotation of said roller in either direction theslot edges engagethe shaving edge of the bladeilatwise to deflect theblade to one side of its normal position,

6. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted inthe head and containing a blade, asharpening.,v

roller rotatably mounted in the'head, said roller being longitudinallyslotted for reception of the cutting edge of the blade, yieldable meansnor mally positioning the blade in a plane substantially radial withrespect to the roller when the blade lies freely within the slot, saidyieldable means kbeing so correlated with the blade holder as to offersubstantially equal resistance to swinging movement of the blade ineither direction away from said radial plane and includingl a camportion-on said blade holder having a rearwardly directed face, a`plunger mounted ina socket formed in said handle having a forward endengaging said face, and a yieldable member compressed between therearward end of said plunger and said socket urging said plunger intoengagement with `the face of said cam portion, said slot defining slotedges having faces parallel to each other and to a plane .passingthrough the longitudinal axis of said slot and the axis of said rollerand being so spaced laterally that upon in the head and containing ablade, a sharpening.

roller rotatably mounted in the head, saidV roller being longitudinallyslotted for reception of the cutting edge of the blade, yieldable meansnormally positioning the blade in a plane substantially radial withrespect to the roller when the lade lies freely within the slot, saidyieldable means being so correlated with the blade holder as to offersubstantially equal resistance t0 swinging movement of the blade ineither direction away from said radial plane and including an expansiblespring member having forward and rearward ends, said member being freelyconfined in a longitudinal socket formed in said handle, a lug onl therearward side of said blade holder with which the forward end of thespring member is connected, andan anchor at the rearward end of thesocket to which the rearward end of the spring member is connected, saidslot defining slot edges having faces parallel to each other and to aplane passing through the longitudinal axis of said slot and the axis ofsaid roller and being so spaced laterally that upon continuedsharpeningr rotation of said roller in either direction the slot edgesengage the shaving edge of the blade ilatwise to deflect the blade toone side of its norinal position.

8. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a blade, asharpeningl roller rotatably mounted in the head, said roller beinglongitudinally slotted for reception of the cutting edge of the blade,and yieldable means normally positioning the blade in a planesubstantially radial with respect to the roller when the blade liesfreely within the slot, said yieldable means being `so correlated withthe blade holder as to offer substantially equal resistance to swing-ving movement of the blade in either direction away from said radialplane and including a spring member secured to said holder and having aportion projecting forwardly toward said head and engaging said holder,said slot defining slot edges having faces parallel to each other and toa plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said slot and the axisof said roller and being so spaced laterally that upon continuedsharpening lrotation of said roller in either direction the slot edgesengage the shaving edge of the blade flatwise to deilect the blade toone side of its normal position. v

9. A self-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, a head, a bladeholder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a lola-de,` asharpening roller rotatably mounted in the head, said roller beinglongitudinally slotted for reception of the cutting edge of :the blade,and yieldable means normally positioning the blade in a planesubstantially radial with respect to the roller when the blade liesfreely within the slot, said yieldable means being so correlated'withthe blade holder as to offer substantially equal resistance to swingingmovement of the blade in either direction away from said radial planeand including a spring member inserted in a socket formed in said handleand having -a portion projecting forwardly toward said head landengaging said holder, said slot dening'slot edges having faces parallelto each. other and to a plane passing through the longitudinal axis o-fsaid slot and the axis of said roller and being so spaced laterally thatupon continued sharpening rotation of said roller in either directionthe slot edges engage the shaving edge of the blade ilatwise to deflectthe blade to one side of its normal position.

10'. Arself-sharpening safety razor comprising a handle, =a head, ablade holder pivotally mounted in the head and containing a blade, asharpening roller rotatably mounted in the head, said roller beinglongitudinally slotted for reception of the l0 cutting edge of theblade, and yieldable means normally positioning the blade in -a planesubstantially radial with respect to the roller when the blade liesfreely within the slot, said yield-able means being so correlated withthe blade holder as to olfer substantially equal resistance toV swingingmovement of the 'blade in either direction away from said radial planeand including a spring member secured to said handle and having aportion projecting forwardly toward said head into engagement with anopening in said holder, said slot defining slot edges having facesparallel to each other vand to a plane passing through the longitudinalaxis of said slot and the axis of said roller and being so spacedlaterally that upon continued sharpening rotation of said roller ineither direction the slot edges engage the shaving edge of the bladeflatwise to deflect the -blade to one side of its normal position.

WILLIAM R. EWING. l BENTON M'. EWING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent: i

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,286,384 `Mezger 1 Dec. 3, 19181,774,563 Parsons 'f Sept. 2, 1930 1,966,426 Aronson July 17, 19341,978,988 Cook Oct. 30, 1934 2,112,042 Muller Mar. 22, 1938

